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my _roquelaire_.

"You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. "But let us proceed

to the Amontillado."

"Be it so," I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak and again

offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. We continued our

route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low

arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep

crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to

glow than flame.

At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less

spacious. Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the

vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three

sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner.

From the fourth side the bones had been thrown down, and lay

promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some

size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we

perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet in width

three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for

no especial use within itself, but formed merely the interval between

two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was

backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.

It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavoured to

pry into the depth of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did

not enable us to see.

"Proceed," I said; "herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchesi--"

"He is an ignoramus," interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily

forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In an instant he

had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress

arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I

had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples,

distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. From one of

these depended a short chain, from the other a padlock. Throwing the

links about his waist, it was but the work of a few seconds to secure

it. He was too much astounded to resist. Withdrawing the key I

stepped back from the recess.

"Pass your hand," I said, "over the wall; you cannot help feeling the

nitre. Indeed, it is _very_ damp. Once more let me _implore_ you to

return. No? Then I must positively leave you. But I must first

render you all the little attentions in my power."

"The Amontillado!" ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his

astonishment.

"True," I replied; "the Amontillado."

As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which

I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity

of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of

my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche.

I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered

that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The

earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth

of the recess. It was _not_ the cry of a drunken man. There was then a

long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and

the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The

noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to

it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labours and sat down upon

the bones. When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel,

and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh

tier. The wall was now nearly upon a level with my breast. I again

paused, and holding the flambeaux over the mason-work, threw a few

feeble rays upon the figure within.

A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the

throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a

brief moment I hesitated--I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began

to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant

reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs,

and felt satisfied. I reapproached the wall; I replied to the yells of

him who clamoured. I re-echoed--I aided--I surpassed them in volume

and in strength. I did this, and the clamourer grew still.

It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had

completed the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth tier. I had finished a

portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone

to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed

it partially in its destined position. But now there came from out the

niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was

succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that

of the noble Fortunato. The voice said--

"Ha! ha! ha!--he! he! he!--a very good joke indeed--an excellent jest.

We shall have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo--he! he!

he!--over our wine--he! he! he!"

"The Amontillado!" I said.

"He! he! he!--he! he! he!--yes, the Amontillado. But is it not getting

late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato

and the rest? Let us be gone."

"Yes," I said, "let us be gone."